Whittaker grabs opponent's throat at weigh-in

Briton Ben Whittaker grabbed Ezra Arenyeka by nan pharynx aft being goaded astatine nan weigh-in for Saturday's light-heavyweight title successful London.

The Olympic metallic medallist retaliated aft Arenyeka pointed his digit towards Whittaker’s look successful nan head-to-head.

As information intervened, Arenyeka past threw women's underwear astatine Whittaker.

"At nan extremity of nan day, he's coming pinch his energy," a dumbfounded Whittaker, 27, said.

"It's each tense energy. Tomorrow's nan day. Tomorrow's judgement day."

Nigeria-born Arenyeka weighed successful precisely astatine nan 12st 7lb limit pinch Briton Whittaker 5 ounces over, earlier matching his opponent's weight successful a 2nd weigh-in moments later.

The bout takes spot connected nan undercard of Chris Billam-Smith’s WBO cruiserweight title defence against Richard Riakporhe astatine Selhurst Park.

Billiam-Smith, 33, trim a subdued fig connected nan scales compared pinch Riakporhe, 34, arsenic some men tipped nan scales astatine 14st 5lb.

But neither man wanted to break an awkwardly agelong face-off, their eyes fixated connected each different contempt nan attempts of 4 members of information to extremity proceedings.

"I haven't looked distant erstwhile successful camp. It's clip to enactment beardown now," champion Billam-Smith said.

Promoters Boxxer opportunity a 15,000-strong crowd is expected astatine Premier League nine Crystal Palace's stadium connected Saturday but location was a debased turnout for Friday’s weigh-in astatine Boxpark successful Croydon.

A scattering of boxing fans mingled pinch workers connected their luncheon break enjoying nan surrounding nutrient stalls.

The fewer who did be were treated to immoderate fireworks and much bizarre moments from Arenyeka, 28, and Whittaker.

Whittaker has go a viral deed for nan mode successful which he has showboated done 7 pro wins but showed an fierce broadside seldom seen successful his short career.

Even galore boxing fans were unaware of Arenyeka - who boasts a flawless grounds of 12 wins – until he gatecrashed a news convention earlier Whittaker’s erstwhile fight.

Billam-Smith won nan title against erstwhile stablemate Lawrence Okolie past twelvemonth but looked acold from his champion successful a triumph complete Mateusz Masternak successful December.

Londoner Riakporhe is unbeaten successful 17 pro fights and edged a adjacent points determination against Billam-Smith successful 2019.

While Billam-Smith began to grin towards nan extremity of their stare-down, Riakporhe remained expressionless.

"You cognize what, I request to consciousness my opponent. I request to spot if it's each a facade, it's conscionable a look. He seems a bully actor," Riakporhe said.

The victor could group himself up pinch lucrative unification bouts, pinch undisputed heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk teasing nan anticipation of a driblet backmost down to cruiserweight successful nan future.

Hard-hitting Australian Jai Opetaia - nan IBF and Ring Magazine champion - is simply a favourite pinch Saudi Arabian organisers and has expressed a wish to conflict for nan WBO belt.